10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 25 [END]

Cross Ange - Episode 25 [END]



Tusk and Ange's allies find a way to follow her to Embryo's lair to stop his destructive plot. Season Finale.

Hmm.

Embryo finally told us his origins, at least as much as we needed to know for the story. I don't know if he was always called Embryo, but 1000 years after his space-time accident, I suppose he can call himself whatever he wants. He spent 500 years messing with the world that belonged to the Dragons, then another 500 messing with the lazy mana users. It's unclear to me how long before that new world ran out of dracunium that he kidnapped Aura, but it felt pretty recent.

 

All that time being immortal turned him into a horny old bastard too. He got used to using women, slapping them and raping them. It's not an accident that he made hood ornaments on his Ragna-mails that were beautiful naked women. Well, he got what he deserved and that was quite satisfying. His original Ragna-mail had to be destroyed along with his real body, otherwise he could have kept jumping around worlds and taken time to heal. Well done for Tusk and Ange on that score.

 

 

Heh.

Crotch Ange achieved. This show is now complete!

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 24

Cross Ange - Episode 24



The combined forces of both worlds help free Aura, but Embryo has more surprises in store for them.

Heh.

Lots of action battle action sequences, but there was still time for certain rivals to share their feelings while shooting at each other. That's anime for you.

 

Embryo - "Nooo! Ange is mai waifu!"

Tusk - "Tapped dat ass."

Embryo - "Arrggh!"

 

I had to laugh at this exchange, first because it was disrespectful towards women and Ange would have given Tusk two black eyes if she heard it, but second, it was exactly how men talk to each other anyway, and third, Tusk claiming to know how many moles are on Ange's inner thigh didn't have to mean they'd been intimate. Crotch Ange was enough for Tusk to figure that out.

 

Finally the dragons crossed over to help out. Leave it to that big gravity dude to have the solution for those killer roombas.

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 23

Cross Ange - Episode 23



The Aurora and its forces begin its frontal assault on Embryo's tower. Jill and Ersha rejoin the fight for Libertas.

Heh.

You know it's time for the final battle when people start talking about good luck charms and goodbye kisses.

Man, somebody should stop the AI development on Roombas. Those things turned into bad news 500 years into the future.

 

Oh, so now Alektra tells us how to kill Embryo. He has an actual real body in some probabilistic dimension that he keeps making copies of. This is why the Vilkiss is so important because it's the only Ragna-mail that can jump between parallel worlds. Too bad we didn't get to see what the other names and abilities of its sibling Ragna-mails are, but I guess that's something to explore in the video games.

 

I thought Alektra had lost that ring. I guess she gave up on the Vilkiss because she couldn't sing? I thought I saw a karaoke lounge somewhere on Arzenal...

 

Speaking of good luck charms...

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 22

Cross Ange - Episode 22



The DRAGONs and Libertas form an alliance as Embryo starts his plan to merge their two worlds. Ange discovers all is not lost.

Heh.

I think we got the last bit of exposition from Riza about the mana users and the Norma. The Dragon Ladies' voices cancel out mana and drive those people crazy, so they had to use the Norma to fight them. Not only that, Embryo genetically engineered mana users to hate Norma. This is why it seemed like a hate switch being turned on as soon as anyone saw proof that a woman was a Norma. I guess the Ancient people like Tusk don't cancel out mana, but they don't get driven crazy by dragons either. Mana use is related to the dragunium crystals, so it makes sense the dragons would interfere somehow. Regular people are just regular.

 

Embryo just tosses women aside if they're no use to him anymore. Ersha had no use for him if he wasn't going to resurrect those little Norma kids.

 

I liked how the preview for the next episode had Ange complaining how far-fetched Tusk's and Momoka's survival was. Come on. The frying pan may have saved Momoka from a bullet, but she fell and then had an exploding car land on top of her. And Tusk's fire resistant suit wouldn't have helped against the concussive force of his suicide vest. Ah, so what. We're going to get our happy ending now.

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 21

Cross Ange - Episode 21



Ange's side suffers setbacks during her rescue from Embryo.

Heh.

Oh boy, things are getting as serious and shocking as the first 3 episodes of this series. I'm still in shock over the ending.

 

We've had some minor characters die during the middle of the story, but now that we're approaching the end, all sorts of bad things are happening.

 

A living zombie army powered by mana - that's not creepy at all.

 

Interesting that Embryo calls the original people of that world "monkeys." Compared to the mitochondrial drift of all his experiments on the new mana users, I guess they are that evolutionarily backward.

 

Tusk figured out that Embryo has to die to move around in time and space, which means he is using all sorts of different versions of himself from different worlds, but only one can occupy any one world at a time. However, just moving around in space doesn't require death. Maybe the end game for this show is to stick Embryo in a confinement chamber like Aura.

 

Chris' reasons for finding a "real friend" in Embryo are as petty and delusional as one could expect. That's just sad.

 

Ange is a black widow! Whomever she kisses ends up dying!

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 20

Cross Ange - Episode 20



Embryo shows Ange his plans for the two worlds and how he bent the other women to his will. Ange and her friends begin their resistance.

Heh.

There was a marked improved in animation quality during certain scenes. It's like they got the group who did the first three episodes to do the final ones.

 

Too bad there was also a marked increase in celestial rays of censorship to go with these better animated scenes.

 

Ange tried to kill Embryo again, this time by immobilizing his hands. Oops. He doesn't need hands to move himself around in time and space.

 

Embryo gave Ange the pain, then the pleasure. Stick and carrot, not carrot and stick.

 

We still don't get an explanation of where Embryo came from or why Ange is special enough to resist his mind breaking skills. Maybe they're both special in that they're blonde and have twin pronged ahoge? Perfect match!

 

The Arzenal crew finally had enough of Alektra's personal vendetta against Embryo.

 

Tusk is a pure pure boy. Of course Hilda couldn't resist teasing him.

 

I find Ange's mean girl mispronunciation put downs hilarious. She called Salamandine all sorts of wrong names and then she pulled the same thing on Salia's Diamond Rose Elite Squad. Ha! Daikon radish!

 

I'm not fan of this twin world conceit. Why stop at two? Couldn't there be a whole bunch of different worlds? Why doesn't Embryo go pick on those pure saps and leave his failures alone? Just really start over.

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 19

Cross Ange - Episode 19



Embyro tries to seduce Ange into following him, like he'd done with so many others. Ange thinks differently.

Heh.

Okay, killing Embryo is going to be pretty hard to do. Traveling back in time, apparently even reflexively, is a nice advantage. Libertas and the Dragon Ladies are going to have to come up with something else for their plans.

 

Oh, Momoka. So happy to hold somebody ELSE's silk panties.

 

Wow, we're back to honest to goodness celestial rays of censorship. We've had fanservice for the last few episodes, but this means there's actual drawn nudity somewhere here. I'm still not sure why they have to censor butt cleavage, but that's there too.

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 18

Cross Ange - Episode 18



Ange reconnects with the survivors of Arzenal and learns much has happened. Alektra and Ange disagree on strategy for defeating Embryo.

Meh.

There was some terrible animation going on for the first half of the episode. Characters' faces were out of proportion and colors were flat. Not until Tusk's Plan B went into action did we start seeing normal production levels again.

 

Heh.

Oh, they were in that submarine. That's why Momoka's rescue team was in diving suits.
 

Lots of things changed while Ange was away with the dragon ladies. Embryo took three para-mail pilots and stuck them in the original Ragna-mails he still had, but the Libertas crew don't know why Salia, Ersha and Chris defected. I assume it was because of the life saving for Ersha and Chris, and perhaps some statsu climbing for Salia to pilot a ship like Vilkiss.
 

Emma knows what to do when things turn sour - Drink! Strange that her military uniform is mainly a strapless dress with a coat, but I suppose the mana users don't need to concern themselves with being so physically active in their duties.
 

Some things have stayed the same for Ange. Like shower scenes.

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 17

Cross Ange - Episode 17



Ange joins the Dragons to free Aura but finds surprising developments in the other world when they arrive.

Heh.

Yay for continuity. Vivian's mom actually had an injured leg from the calamity last episode and needed to walk with a crutch.

 

Naked girls explaining stuff in a hot tub? This is Cross Ange after all.

 

Wow, lots of things have happened since Ange went to the real world. Some of the Arzenal girls are piloting real Ragna-mails with rings like Ange's, probably working for Embryo who had them anyway, but there's a contingent that's broken off from them. We'll have to find out next episode how much time has passed and what the hell is going on. This show just doesn't let up.

 

Not too much of a surprise that Embryo used Lizardia to give the Dragons incorrect coordinates for their singularity.

 

After Ange met Tusk, the show should have changed its name to Crotch Ange.

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 16

Cross Ange - Episode 16



Salamandine tries to convince Ange to help them rescue Aura. Embryo attacks with a space-time bubble.

Heh.

Of course Salamandine restored an Arcade and Recreation Center. How else would the two most popular girls in schools win their wager? Uh, wait, they're not in school? And this is some kind of sci-fi mecha exploitation anime? Crossing those genre streams is very bad.

 

I did like all the sports anime homages they made.

Nice running joke with Ange getting Salamandine's name wrong. Alpha wolf dominance play too.

 

Vivian was a right cute little dragon baby.

 

These dragon ladies must be very tough if being pinned by a floating motorcycle is no big deal and Vivian's mom can stand up afterwards.

 

Yeah, Vilkiss. Rub some dirt on it!

 

Song of Creation cancels out Song of Destruction? That's neat.

 

That Tusk guy is always bringing the accidental sexy back.

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 15

Cross Ange - Episode 15



Ange meets the inhabitants of the True Earth and learns its relationship to her own world, Mana, and Embryo.

Hmm.

Well, that was quite the exposition dump. In the last two episodes, we have learned everything we need to know about what's been going on before Ange got shipped off to Arzenal. We know that Embryo started over in another dimension after ruining the original world with his use of Dragunium particles. While he set up a new world using mana, the original survivors followed the example of Aura, the first person to adapt to the Dragunium infused world. Unfortunately for Embryo, mana uses Dragunium too, and the new magic users quickly used up their own sources. Embryo kidnapped Aura and began to use her to distribute mana. Then Aura got used up, but Embryo decided to use the male dragons who collected Dragunium crystals to refill Aura's own reservoir. And that's what all the fighting is about. The people of true earth, who can take on the form of dragons have been trying to rescue their venerated elder while Embryo has been directing his new genetically modified people to collect the male dragons who cross over to resupply their mana. The ancient people, like Tusk, were the ones who were there before Embryo decided to wipe the slate clean.

 

A couple of things are still unanswered. First, the significance of these rings Ange and Alektra had. Were they Dragunium stones? Second, what will Ange do now? The rebels in the other dimension don't seem to know anything about another world filled with dragons. The dragons have their own agents over there still trying to rescue Aura. Will she join in the rescue? Will that align with her goal to oppose Embryo? Third, what's with the singing? We've still got quite a bit of plot to go through, and probably many more situations for Tusk and Ange to land in each other's crotch, so I'm already looking forward to the next episode.

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 14

Cross Ange - Episode 14

Ange, Tusk, and Vivian end up in a world ruined over 500 years ago. They soon discover they are not from this world.

Heh.

This is the exposition dump we've been waiting for since the second episode.

 

A bit sad but not surprising that automated systems are keeping a quiet watch over mummified remains. They seemed well protected and supplied, so how did children end up dying in their mother's lap? Did those huge explosions kill only people but left the electronic systems intact?

 

Ragna-mail from Ragnorak. These Japanese love them some Norse mythology. There's got to be a big tree somewhere now.

 

Leave it to Vivian to concentrate on the important things after being stranded. Juice!

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 13

Cross Ange - Episode 13

Julio's fleet attacks Arzenal. Ange and Vilkiss reveal new powers while Embryo shows off his own. Season premiere.

Meh.

We had new opening and ending songs, but the scenes were only slightly edited from the previous season. There was a production problem over the holiday break, according to the director, so they had to scramble to make an acceptable pair of scenes for the premiere. Apparently not so acceptable... At least we found out that some of the scenes for the credits aren't supposed to have clothing on them, which will be corrected for the blu-rays. Groveling for the viewers or sneaky promotions for the disks? I'm leaning toward the latter.

 

Heh.

Ange got to shoot her brother in the leg, but it was Embryo who finished the job. Good. Kind of overkill, though, with the special attack.

 

Different songs and emotions bring out different colors on these original para-mails. Ange will have to learn some new songs then.

 

As if Embryo weren't enigmatic enough, but piloting, or somehow controlling, a flying ship while standing on its shoulder is throwing out all sorts of omnipotence vibes. Plus floating all by himself over a huge hole carved into ocean water.

 

At first I thought Embryo was going to be some ruthlessly compassionate being after he started healing almost dead, or very recently dead Norma.

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 12

Cross Ange - Episode 12

Jill explains the creation of the magical world and the Norma to Ange. The startling origins of the DRAGONs are revealed too.

Heh.

Hey, let's explain everything while two sexy ladies take a naked dip in the hot tub. Where have I seen this before? Aren't we lucky that the half of the island that survived last episode's attack had the functioning spa?

 

If I asked someone to start at the beginning, and they started with a creation myth, I would have been offended too. But no, Jill really had to start there.

 

Who is this Embryo guy? Why do the nobility give him such deference? He can't be just a scientist looking guy who knows how to manipulate DNA.

 

So the last rebellion with a royal born Norma wearing a ring failed because Alektra couldn't sing? Pssh. I guess she wasn't a Disney princess. All those gals can sing.

 

That was a good device from the producers to have Jill tell the whole story of the mana users and the Norma without mentioning the DRAGONs. It gave Vivian seeing herself as a DRAGON in a mirror that much more impact. Julio's security chief having DRAGON wings also makes this revelation more interesting.

 

Aw. Momoka was sad she couldn't see more naked Angelise-sama. Ange got her bath, after stinking so much last episode, but what about Hilda?

Good thing for Vivian that the only one who could shoot straight was Ange.
 

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 11

Cross Ange - Episode 11

Disturbing revelations abound between the DRAGONs, the royal families and the importance of Ange's song.

Heh.

Nice scar on Julio's face.

 

That's not creepy at all, calling your sex partner "Mama." Nope, not feeling the heebie jeebies.

 

I know I'm watching a trashy mecha show, but seeing those dragon wings on Julio's security chief made me think I had accidentally downloaded a hentai parody of this show. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

 

Hilda takes being confined in stride. It's not bad prison food; she's on a new diet.

 

Stinky jokes from not bathing had me laughing throughout the episode.

 

Ah, so Emma is berserker class.

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 10

Cross Ange - Episode 10



Tusk rescues Ange from her public execution and returns her to Arzenal. Ange and Hilda connect over their severed past relationships.

Heh.

Well, if you ever wanted to see how not to foster sympathy for a little blonde girl in a wheelchair, Cross Ange just figured that out for you. Yikes!

Ange's brother is a real piece of work too. He confirmed that he manipulated Momoka into finding Ange on Arzenal, just to lure her back for her public execution. If Sylvia was in on the plot, then she played on Momoka's sympathies too.

That Norma switch is powerful. Beautiful older sister. Norma. "Give me my legs back, you antisocial monster!" Somebody's antisocial, alright.

Tusk and Ange make the most poetic reunion imaginable.

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 9

Cross Ange - Episode 9



Ange and Hilda both find out their families hate them as Normas. The royal family of the former Misurugi Empire set a trap to capture Ange.

Heh.

If you needed a reminder of how much the magic using people hate Normas, this episode had you covered.

Hilda's mom threw her beloved apple pie right at her daughter. That Norma hate indoctrination is strong.

Ange's crippled sister Sylvia pulling a knife on her was even worse. And the rage face she made when she wished Ange had never been born so she wouldn't have been paralyzed was an even sharper knife stuck in Ange's gut.

I had thought that maybe Ange's brother had let Momoka escape to lure Ange back, but it could have simply been an opportunistic plot after Momoka disappeared. Definitely Sylvia wanted to torture her older sister.

Ange disabled the magic netting with just a touch, so that's again proving how disruptive having these Norma walking around a magic based society would be. Still, dehumanizing Normas so much, that even the parents who raised them or the friends who grew up with them could flip a switch so quickly on how they view these people is quite emphatic to me. I never lived in a Soviet bloc country, but the descriptions of those who escaped and the ones involved in the normalization of relations after the USSR fell strike me as very similar.

Lots of plot, but no PLOT. So here, have some Momoka fanservice.

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 8

Cross Ange - Episode 8



Ange and Hilda escape Arzenal during the Mermaid Festa. Ange and Momoka head for the former Empire of Misurugi while Hilda rides off to the Enderant Union.

Meh.

It's standard convention in anime with cute girls for them to be surprised about wearing a new outfit as a way for the viewer to appreciate the change in dress, but it really chafes my sensibilities. It lifts me straight out of the viewing experience because of a conflict of verisimilitude.

Why in the hell would she be surprised about the outfit she just put on? Make a reaction against a comment or some other sight gag, but stop this surprise at what she's wearing as if it magically appeared on her. Hey, if it did magically appear, no worries, mission accomplished, but when this girl had to put her legs in little holes and tie thin little strings, there's no way she's surprised at what she's wearing. Give it up already. On a related note, Ange had the cutest swimsuit!

Heh.

Putting aside my meh reaction to Ange asking why she's wearing a swimsuit, (it was almost a feh! but I got better), Thalia, er, Salia had such a straightforward answer, I had to laugh. She called their flight suits and uniforms "stuffy" so, of course, only something skimpier could be more comfortable. Gah!

Arzenal is on a tropical island, so it's not much of stretch for the Norma to call their little festival the Mermaid Festa.

I'm still not sure how all these royal families control the world as nation states, but it was neat to see someone else from the first episode wanting more answers about this princess who was exposed as a Norma.

Combining a high school sports festival with a town summer festival was fine, but I guess that means the fun stuff is over with for the rest of the show.

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 7

Cross Ange - Episode 7



Salia convinces Ange to rely on her squad mates and not take all the risk on her own.

Heh.

Don't you hate it when you find out that official Engrish has cheapened your anime? Salia's name is actually Thalia, according to Momoka's awesome English.



With how Momoka loves her Angelise-sama, I have no trouble believing that she could pull off another 49 pages of that scholarly prose. Well, everything I've written says Salia, so I'm not going to change that now.

Speaking of Thalia, er, Salia, it was very nice to have an episode devoted to her. Ever since I saw those blue reading glasses, I've been waiting to see them again. The question put before you: Megane Blue or Megane Red?

10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 6

Cross Ange - Episode 6



Momoka, Ange's former maid, stows aboard a transport to be with her Angelise-sama. Ange decides to "buy" her so she can stay on Arzenal.

Heh.

Momoka had a nice running joke with using the wad of cash Ange gave her to fix up her locker, her room, and cook fine cuisine. Ange never accepted any special treatment, so she wasn't going to start now.

Poor Salia. Her locker left on the floor, a casualty of Momoka's redecorating.

Ange finally had something to spend all her money on: buying Momoka's life.

We still don't know what the deal is with these DRAGON things, and why they need to be kept secret from the magic using people.

Salia knows why Ersha's rifle shooting is so poor.